Washoe County Library Accepting Food for Fines

For the next week you can pay your overdue library fines with food and help the food bank at the same time.

Washoe County Library branches are holding a Food for Fines program until April 28th. Library Director Arnie Maurins says the program was so popular in the fall, they brought it back for spring. "If you want an opportunity to clear your record, bring in one item of food for each fine that you have, and that's all it takes," said Maurins.

Library customer Gary Robison thinks it’s a great idea. “I paid my fines with food before. I think it's great. I sometimes will bring in a donation whether I have a fine or not,” he said.

Last fall the Food for Fines program collected 8,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. "It's a kind thing to do and Reno's a great place with a lot of kind people. Why wouldn't we do that?" asked Robison.

Library officials say donating food to pay fines brings out another benefit. "In a lot of cases we get books and other materials back that they've been holding on to and the food bank gets food, so it's a win-win all the way around," said Maurins.

The spring drive is also a way to build up supplies at the food bank at a time when food drives aren't as plentiful. "Everyone seems to have a food drive around Christmas and we thought this would be a good time to supplement what's in the food banks," Maurins explained.

The Food for Fines drive is going on through Monday, April 28th. Food collected at the Incline Village branch will go to MANA.